European Law Against Shechita?

The European Economic Community (EEC) is currently considering a law for “the protection of animals” which could lead to the prohibition of the shechita in several member nations, it was revealed here this weekend at the annual meeting of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Switzerland (SIG). Under the law, each EEC member could decide whether to allow or prohibit the shechita on its soil. In Switzerland, the shechita has been forbidden since 1893.

The SIG assembly’s main discussion centered on the “identity crisis” of Judaism. To combat this, the delegates decided to intensify Jewish education programs in Switzerland. Jean Nordmann of Fribourg was elected new SIG president. He succeeds Georges Brunschvig of Bern who died in Oct. 1973.

The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.